November 23 Energy News

November 23, 2018

Opinion:

¶ “Peak Oil and Drastic Oil Shortages Imminent, Says IEA” • With the current lack of new exploration, peak oil will be hit well before 2020, according to the International Energy Agency. This means that a collapse of oil supply to half of its current size within only six years simply cannot be compensated by new oil discoveries. [CleanTechnica]

Please click on the image to enlarge it

¶ “Trump Confuses Climate Change with Weather, Prompting Widespread Despair” • Donald Trump again confused weather with climate change, suggesting cold weather means global warming is not real. ‘I have never had a student dumb enough to make the kind of inference Trump is making,’ one professor and former Bush adviser says. [The Independent]
(Thanks to CC Reilly)

¶ “Foratom: ‘Balance of Power in the EU is Shifting Against Nuclear’” • Eastern EU countries have a positive opinion of nuclear energy while others like Belgium and Spain are shifting against, says Yves Desbazeille. The big question for the industry is whether Germany will turn even more anti-nuclear than it already is, he says in an interview. [EURACTIV]

Abandoned Satsop nuclear plant (sharkhats | Flickr)

Science and Technology:

¶ “Are Wind Farms the New Environmental Apex Predators?” • A study found that wind turbines and wind farms have the potential of acting as a new apex predator in a given ecosystem, but its authors are quick to point out that this is not an argument against wind energy, but rather an argument for more informed decision-making. [CleanTechnica]

¶ “Solid-State Airplane with No Moving Parts Takes Flight” • An airplane with no moving parts flew 60 meters. Is that a big deal? It is if you consider that in 1903, Orville and Wilbur Wright’s first airplane changed the world after it flew only 37 meters. What new ideas could an airplane with no jet or internal combustion engine lead to? [CleanTechnica]

Solid state airplane

¶ “Treatment for Climate Change Surprisingly Inexpensive, Study Finds” • A fleet of 100 planes making 4,000 worldwide missions per year, spraying tiny sulphate particulates, could help save the world from climate change. Also, it may be relatively cheap. Those are the conclusions of a peer-reviewed study in Environmental Research Letters. [CBS News]

¶ “Global Carbon Dioxide Levels Hit a New Record in 2017, UN Says” • The amount of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere hit a new record last year with emissions showing no sign of slowing down, the UN World Meteorological Organization said. The annual Greenhouse Gas Bulletin dashed hopes for a slowdown in emissions of CO2. [Reuters UK]

Smog in Beijing (Jason Lee | Reuters)

World:

¶ “Queensland Trial to Power a Remote Farm with Solar and Battery ‘Pod'” • A Belgian-made renewable power “pod” that combines solar, battery storage, and a generator will be installed on a farm in Queensland, as part of a bid backed by the state and local governments to offer cheaper and more reliable electricity for rural properties. [RenewEconomy]

¶ “China-Backed Coal Projects Prompt Climate Change Fears” • Environmental groups say China is not only building more coal-burning power plants but also backing dozens of coal projects far beyond its borders. Chinese-supported coal projects are under way or planned as far afield as South America, Africa, southeast Asia, and the Balkans. [BBC]

China-supported coal plant construction

¶ “Engie Doubles Pp with Latin America PPAs” • Engie signed two power purchase agreements in Mexico and Chile. With a solar farm set to be online at the end of 2019, Engie will exceed 1000 MW of renewable capacity running or under construction in Mexico. Engie also made a deal with the operator of the Santiago de Chile airport. [reNEWS]

¶ “Spanish Government Invests in Re-Skilling Miners for Clean Energy Jobs” • Spain’s future of 100% renewable electricity will end jobs for coal miners, but its government agreed with mining unions to divert €250 million to re-skilling coal workers in clean energy jobs, environmental restoration, and early retirement plans. [Open Access Government]

¶ “Business Council Excoriates Coalition’s ‘Ad Hoc and Extreme’ Energy Policies” • The renewable energy sector is not alone in opposing the Morrison government’s energy plan. The Business Council of Australia has blasted it, saying it will exacerbate risks, interfere with market outcomes, and discourage investment in critical infrastructure. [The Guardian]

US:

¶ “‘Absolute Disgrace:’ When No One Looking, White House Plans to Dump Major Climate Report on Black Friday” • Environmental groups, journalists, and climate scientists are reacting to a White House decision to release a major climate report on Black Friday. Some call the move an effort to bury a science-packed assessment. [Common Dreams]

Camp Fire destruction (Justin Sullivan | Getty Images)

¶ “Colorado Joins California Low Emission Vehicle Program in Rebuke to Trump” • Under the Clean Air Act, only California got a waiver permitting it to impose stricter vehicle emissions rules than the federal standard, though other states are free to adopt the California rules if they wish to. Colorado is the thirteenth state to do so. [CleanTechnica]

¶ “Maryland Puts Value of Solar at $7 Billion over 10 Years” • As part of a broader investigation begun in 2016, the Public Service Commission of Maryland issued its final report on the benefits and costs of solar resources in Maryland. It found economic returns of over $7 billion over the coming decade, if new solar keeps up its growth drive. [CleanTechnica]

One more thing:

Michael Shank, PhD

¶ “At the VECAN Conference, Michael Shank, the afternoon keynote speaker will present ‘From Apathy to Action: Motivating the Masses on Climate'” • Dr. Michael Shank is Communications Director for the Carbon Neutral Cities Alliance. You can still register early for $40. On November 26th, registration will increase to $50. [Green Energy Times]